Mail-bag.



W. A. CARPENTER.

MAIL BAG.

' APPLICATION FIEED JULY 14. 1808. 928,106. Patented July-13, 1909..

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WILLIAM A. CARPENTER, OF CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-FOURTH TO JESSE B. CARPENTER, OF CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA.

MAIL-BAG.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM A. CARPEN- TER, a citizen. of the United States, residing at Charlotte, in the county of Mecklenburg and State oi North Carolina, have invented new and useful improvements in Mail-Bags, of which the following is a speciiication.

This invention relates to mail bags and one of the principal objects of the same is to simplify the construction of the mouth of a bag and to provide improved means tor supporting the bag upon an assorting rack.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for dispensing with the ordinary padlock for locking the mouth ofthe bag and to provide an imlproved lock which will operate automatica y upon closing the bag and which can be quickly unlocked by a key.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a mail bag with supporting loops for su porting the bag upon an asserting rack.

hese and other objects may be attained by means of the construction illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:-

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the upper part of a mail bag made in accordance with my invention, the mouth of the bag being closed. Fig. 2 is a plan view looking` down into the open mouth ofthe bag. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of one of the lock plates. Fig. 1 is a similar view ofthe other lock plate. Fig. 5 is a detail section of the lock. Fig. 6 is an inside elevation of three of the mouth plates oi' the bag. Fig. 7 is a similar view of the other three plates forming the mouth of the bag. Fig. 8 is a plan view of the mouth plates of the bag closed.

Referring to the drawing for a more specific description of my invention, the numeral 1 designates a mail bag ot the usual or any preferred construction and connected to the open end or mouth et the bag are the three male mouth plates 2 and the three temale mouth plates 3. The plates 2 are each provided with a rib or projection l and upon the ends et said plate are knuckles or pintle bearings 5 adapted to be connected to the knuckles or bearings 6 upon the opposite ends of said plate by means of suitable pintles 7 The plates 2 are secured to the mouth ofthe bag by means oi suitable plates 8 disposed u on the inside of the bag mouth while the pates 2 are disposed upon the outer side thereof and rivets 9 are passed Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed July 14, 190B.

Patented July 13, 1909.

Serial No. 443,433.

through the plates 8, the bag 1 and the plates 2.

The female mouth plates 3 are each provided with spaced ribs or projections 11 between which a groove 5a is provided for the rib or projection 4 upon the male members 2. lt is to be noted that the ribs or projections 4 are rounded oi at their ends as at 5a and that the female members 3 are similarly rounded ofi as at 6a, thus permitting the members 2 and 3 to close together tightly and to form a practically smooth unbroken upper surface with interlocking parts. Connected to each of the pintles 7 is a wire supporting loop 10, said loops adapted to be connected to suitable hooks on the asserting rack. The inner ends of the loop are seated in notches 11 'formed in the end of the sections 2 and 3. The loops 10 are disposed between the pintle bearings 5 and 6 on the members 2 and 3. The female members 3 are secured to the mouth ol the bag by means of the plates 8 a in a manner similar to that of the members 2.

The oppositely disposed locking sections ot the bag mouth are in every Way similarl to the other members excepting that the male member is provided with a recess 12 and that the plate 8C is provided with a recess 13 in which the lock casing 14 is seated when the bag is locked. `Within the easing 14 a sliding bolt 15 is mounted, said bolt comprising spaced legs 16 each provided with a lug 17. An enlargement 18 on the bolt 15 serves as an abutment i'or a spring 19, which normally holds the bolt 15 projected. The head of the bolt 15 is beveled so that when the rib or projection 4 is closed into the groove 5a the bolt will automatically catch into the recess 12. A key hole 20 is provided in the i'emale lock plate and a key inserted in said key hole and turned in either direction will come in contact with the lug 17 and withdraw the bolt 15 lfrom the recess 12.

From the Yforegoing it will be obvious that my mail bag is ol simple construction, dispenses entirely with a padlock, is provided with means i'or supporting the bag on. a rack, is strong durable and efficient and can be manufactured at low cost.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new, is

A mail bag comprising mouth plates pivotally connected together, oppositely disposed lock plates pivotally connected to adjacent mouth plates, one oi' said lock platesv and an enlarged lug on the bolt against 10 being provided With a rib having a bolt recess which said spring bears.

therein, the other Mplate having a pair of In testimony whereof I alix my signature spaced ribs Withln intermediate groove, onle in presence of tvvo Witnesses.

of said grooves aving a recess inY ine Wit 1 I the recezsns in the rib of the companion late, a WILLIAM A' CARPENTER sliding bolt, a spring for holding said bolt Witnesses:

normally projected into said recesses, said J. B. CARPENTER,

bolt having spaced arms provided with lugs, B. N. GRUPFITH. 

